As much as we love stone, sometimes stones can look like just a pile of rocks. That is where the marriage between stones and plants can become magic. Adding beautiful plants to your stone paths, walkways, or walls is a simple way to soften their look while adding a creative touch to your space. Here are seven ideas to inspire you:
1. A Colorful Welcome on Steep Stone Paths
In this garden, the client wanted a series of stone walkways down her steep hillside. We created long, meandering paths framed by perennials. The colorful perennials help to warm up the grey stone and make this a path to remember.
2. Thyme to Soften Straight Lines on Stone Paths
Got a straight stone path? Scalloping the edges with variegated creeping thyme (Thymus x citrodorus ‘Aureus’) works wonders. The bright yellow foliage contrasts beautifully with blue stone, creating a softer, more inviting look.
3. Creeping Jenny Loves the Shade
In a shady, damp area, creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is a superstar. Left to its own devices, it cascades over stone steps, softening the edges with its lush green growth.
4. Green Backdrops for Stone Steppers
Stepping stones don’t have to stand alone! Pair them with green mother of thyme (Thymus praecox) and chartreuse sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’). These low-growing plants create a lush, colorful frame that elevates the look of the stone.
5 & 6. Creepers for Boulder Walls
Gardens 5 and 6 feature a three-foot-high boulder wall that we softened by planting right up to the edge with creeping plants. Creeping Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) is a fantastic evergreen for this kind of wall. It’s low-growing, bunching, and creeping habit adds a soft, natural feel. Boulder walls with gravel behind them are ideal for this juniper—it loves the heat from the stone and thrives in the excellent drainage.
7. Terraced Beauty with Succulents
A low limestone retaining wall offered the perfect planting pockets for hens and chicks (Echeveria). These charming succulents not only love the high-pH soil near limestone but also add texture and color, making the wall a true feature in the garden.
Whether you’re working with stone walkways, retaining walls, or stepping stones, adding plants can make all the difference. It’s the perfect way to blend the strength of stone masonry with the softness of nature.
